Can you recommend me a good hot hatch--that's automatic?

[DomJeans]

...my left knee is ruined from running, work and heavy clutches. Time to get something else sadly...

[kambites]

Surely the obvious answer is the M135i or A45?

I think all of VAG's Golf-based hot hatches are available with the DSG.

[toon10]

Without knowing budget, etc what about the DSG systems on the Golf GTi? They're supopsed to be good hot hatches (if a little grown up for some) from Mk5 onwards.

[HarryFlatters]

kambites said:

I think all of VAG's Golf-based hot hatches are available with the DSG.

And some of the smaller ones, Fabia VRs and Polo GTi are both DSG.

Up-coming Polo R will have a DSG box too, if you fancy 250bhp and Haldex 4WD in a tiny(ish) hatchback

[thatdude]

Depending on your financial situation, those ZF 8-speed auto boxes are often touted as being very, very good, so a car fitted with one is hopefully going to be enjoyable

[DomJeans]

Yes, sorry- of course I should have mentioned budget....up to 4k I guess.

[ToothbrushMan]

You havent mentioned what your budget is, so for that......

Daihatsu YRV 1.3 Turbo

[Butter Face]

DomJeans said:

Yes, sorry- of course I should have mentioned budget....up to 4k I guess.

Not many at that price, most will be newer.

A Honda Prelude Tiptronic would be a good shout (ok, not a hot hatch) with 185bhp and a slick TT box they're pretty awesome!

[DomJeans]

Yeah, good shout on the Prelude but I need a hatch (as I need to cart loads of crap around in the back of the car).

[V8forweekends]

Scooby Impreza Turbo 5 door - There's one on Autotrader for 3.5 large

[Dave Hedgehog]

DomJeans said:

Yes, sorry- of course I should have mentioned budget....up to 4k I guess.

from a VAG perspective your going to be on the early gen of their duel clutch system at that price range, and they where not that reliable to start with, especially the mechatronic units

[ModernAndy]

2006 Audi A3 2.0T DSG Sport Sportback with circa 100k on the clock? They are about £4k on the dot right now and are essentially a Golf GTi with an Audi badge

[Gilhooligan]

O/T but how did you run your knee from running? (I do a fair bit of running and don't fancy being in your predicament years down the line.. Lol)

[NumberoftheBeast]

Isn't the new Clio 200 Turbo auto?

[5lab]

volvo c30 t5 had an auto option
audi tt had dsg as an option - its a hatched back but not as big as the others - I don't know if it'd be big enough?
random also-hatched option : late-90s camaro. Massive in the back, most were autos. /300bhp...

[DomJeans]

Gilhooligan said:

O/T but how did you run your knee from running? (I do a fair bit of running and don't fancy being in your predicament years down the line.. Lol)

Overuse, not much stretching, not warming up well enough (these matters I have fixed). Also age- I am mid 40's and we have arthritis in the family. Mostly, though, the issue is 2 hours or more of daily traffic driving when in a clio 172 (with associated heavy clutch). This , I think, caused the most trouble. I can still run and whatnot, but I want to preserve my knee so I can still do it when I am 70 -odd .

Thanks all for your suggestions- I'll get researching!

[sjg]

A3s with the early DSGs would be in budget, maybe a TT. 3.2 V6 or the turbo 2l.

Not so "hot hatch" but £4k gets a pretty fresh Vectra with the 2.8 turbo engine - 250bhp and autos available.

[s m]

DomJeans said:

Yeah, good shout on the Prelude but I need a hatch (as I need to cart loads of crap around in the back of the car).

So 4k tops

Has it got to be newer than a certain year?

Have above a certain level of performance?

[kiethton]

Volvo T5?

May just scrape an S40 in budget?

ETA. well within budget

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-VOLVO-S40-T5-SE-AUT...

[anonymous-user]

Fiat Stilo Abarth! Wasn't a great new buy but great value second hand. Bonus is a fantastic engine.

Alfa 147 may be worth a look also

Edited by MonkeyMatt on Friday 24th January 15:43